Corner construction for metal door frames



July 15, 1958 H. H. GOLDBERG 2,843,232

comm cous-raucnou FOR METAL DOOR :FRAMES Filed June 2],. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. f/AR/PY H. GOLDBERG ATTORN Y y 5, 1958 H. H. GOLDBERG 2,843,232

comma cons'mucnou FOR METAL DOOR FRAMES Filed June 21. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' mmvrox HARRY H 601. DBERG United States Patent CORNER CONSTRUCTION FOR METAL DOOR FRAMES Harry H. Goldberg, Denver, Colo.

Application June 21, 1956, Serial No. 592,807

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) This invention relates to metal door frames; and, more particularly, to corner constructions for use with metal door frames.

Metal door frames are becoming quite widely used in modern home construction because of their ease and rapidity of installation, small cost and decorative appearance. A problem arises, however, in the prior art constructions because of the difiiculty inaligning the jamb members with the head members so that no crack appears therebetween and the various members will not tilt relative to the wooden door frame formed by the 2 x 4 door bucks and header.

In the prior art metal door frames an attempt has been made to effect a rigid connection between the jambs and the head by a single bracket positioned on the inside or lateral face of the frame members. Such a construction often results in a crack or separation between the frame members on the wall face even though the bracket holds the lateral adjoining faces thereof together. Also, this type of connection permits relative tiltable movementbetween the frame members that causes cracks to form as the frame pulls away from the plaster. Separation usually occurs due to a shrinkage of the plaster as it dries or from shock resulting from the door being slammed against the jambs.

In the instant corner construction, however, this problem is obviated through the use of a simple overlapping joint at the corners which provides a positive interlock between the jamb members and the wall faces and, in addition, places the jamb members in correct alignment relative to the head member.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a three-piece metal door frame utilizing an improved corner construction by means of which the metal frame members are joined together and aligned.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a corner construction for metal door frame members which eliminates cracks and relative movement therebetween.

A further object is to provide a three-piece metal door frame which can be rapidly and easily attached to the wooden frame members bounding the door opening.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide a metal door frame which is simple, inexpensive, lightweight and decorative in appearance.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawing that follows, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of one of the jamb members and the head member of the door frame of the present invention showing the novel corner construction interconnecting said members, certain portions of the frame having been broken away to conserve space and better show the details of construction;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2 Figure 1 showing the wooden frame members and wall construction in addition to the corner construction employed to connect the metal frame members;

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Figure 3 is a section taken along line 33 of Figure Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the adjoining corners of one of the jamb members and the head member.

In connection with Figure 1 of the drawing it will be seen that the three-piece metal door frame of the present invention consists of jamb members 10 and 12 and head member 14, jamb member 10 having been shown in dotted lines. lamb members 10 and 12 are substantially identical except that one of said members contains embossed hinge recesses, not shown, while the other is provided with an embossed strike plate recess, also not shown. The basic cross section of all three frame members 10, 12 and 14, is identical and clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4.

As will be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the cross section of the frame members simulates the conventional wooden finish door frame or trim and comprises a lateral face 16 having a door stop rib 18 formed therein, spaced side trim portions 20 depending from the margins of the lateral face and forming a channel therewith sized to receive the wooden frame members or buck 22, and spaced parallel channels 24 sized and adapted to receive the finished walls as. In the particular construction shown, the side trim portions 20 are offset slightly from the lateral face by portions 26 extending therebetween. Channels 24 are formed by reversely bent portion 28 depending from the side trim portions, inwardly extending portions 30 and return portions 32 which form means for connecting the frame members to the buck. The return portions extend along the face of the wooden framemernbers and project beyond the side trim portions so that they are accessible for nailing. Spaced nail openings 34 are provided in the return portions to receive nails 36 which are used to fasten the metal frame members to the wooden frame members, as shown.

Specifically, in connection with Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the head member 14 is provided with two identical L-shaped brackets 38 mounted in opposite ends thereof. Each bracket has a horizontal leg 40, preferably provided with one or more transverse ribs 42 which act as stilfeners, and a vertical leg 44. Horizontal legs 41 of the brackets are welded or otherwise permanently attached to the lateral face of the head member in position tocover the inner face of the door stop rib. The vertical legs 44 of the brackets project downwardly in spaced parallel relation to one another from the remote ends of the lateral faces of the head members. These vertical legs utilmately lie behind the lateral faces of the jamb members, as shown in Figure 1, and maintain the inside corners 46 of the assembled frame in aligned right-angular relation.

Also in Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the ends of each of the frame members 10, 12 and 14 are cut on a 45 angle with the exception of return portions 32 which are extended to form overlapping tabs 48 located at the outside corners 50. Tab 48 of the head member is preferably coplanar with the return portion 32 thereof: whereas, tab 48 of the jamb members is preferably offset slightly so as to slip over the outside of the tabs on the head, as shown quite clearly in Figure 2.

Overlapping tabs 48 of the jambs and head contain openings 52 which register with one another only when the inside and outside corners 46 and 50, respectively, match up in the proper right-angular relation. Thus, with the vertical legs 44 of the brackets positioned against lateral faces 16 of the jamb members and a nail through the registering openings 52 in the tabs, the proper assembled relation between the head and jamb members is achieved and maintained permanently. The nails passing into the wooden door frame members through the return portions of the metal frame members prevent relative tiltable movement between said members of the frame and the nails passing through registering openings 52 effect a positive rigid connection between the head and jambs.

Assembly and attachment of the metal frame to the wooden frame is quite simple and fast. The head member is first placed on the wooden header where it is frictionally held or may be tacked in place prior to permanent installation. Thereafter the jamb members are installed on the wooden bucks in like manner. The head and jamb members are then adjusted relative to one another until vertical legs 44 of the brackets are positioned behind the lateral faces of the jambs and openings 52 in the overlapping tabs are alignedjwhereupon, nails are driven into the bucks through the registering openings to maintain the frame members in the proper relative positions. Finally, each of the frame members is permanently nailed to the bucks through openings 34.

In finishing the wall, the rock-lath panels 54 are nailed to the studs, not shown, in the conventional manner and the finished plaster wall 56 is applied over the rocklath. Both the plaster and rock-lath are inset into channels 24 formed in the frame.

If desired, stiffening straps 58, shown in Figure 4, can be used to strengthen the jamb members in the wellknown manner.

In Figure 5 it will be seen that an exploded perspective view is shown of jamb member and head member 14 in position to be joined together. This view clearly illustrates the simplicity and ease of installation found in the novel corner construction of the present invention. The manner in which L-shaped brackets 38 move into position behind the lateralfaces of the jamb members with vertical leg 44 thereof acting to hold inside corner 46 closed is clearly shown. Also, it will be noted that tabs 48 on the upper ends of the jambs are offset slightly to overlie the corresponding tabs of the head. Registering openings 52 in the overlapping tabs function to hold the outside corners 50 in closed aligned relation, as aforementioned.

Having thus described the novel corner construction of the three-piece metal door frame of the present invention it will be seen that the many useful objects for which it was designed have been achieved. Although the present invention has been described in connection with one specific style of metal door frame illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I realize that certain modifications will occur to those skilled in the art which are within the scope hereof; hence, it is my intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a three-piece metal door frame of the type including two jamb members and a head member each formed to provide a lateral door-receiving face, portions depending from the lateral face designed to form the trim on the sides thereof and channel shaped portions formed in each of the trim portions to receive the finished wall surfaces bounding the door opening framed by the wooden frame members, the improved means for connecting the head member to the jamb members which comprises: L-shaped brackets attached to the lateral face of the head member in opposite ends thereof, one leg of said brackets extending downwardly in position to lie behind and adjacent to the adjoining lateral face of the jamb members when said metal frame members are in assembled relation to hold the inside corners formed therein together; and, tabs formed integral with each of the farme members on opposite ends of the head member and on the upper end of the jamb members, said tabs being located on opposite sides of each of said frame members and on the inside of each channel-shaped portion in position to lap the corresponding tab of the adjoining frame member adjacent the wooden frame when said metal frame members are in assembled relation, said pairs of lapping tabs having openings therein positioned to register when said frame members are assembled with the corners thereof in proper alignment so that a nail passing therethrough into the wooden frame will maintain the door frame in correctly assembled position.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the tabs on the jamb members are offset slightly to overlap the corresponding tabs on the head members.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the tabs depend from a portion of the channel lying behind the finished wall surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,717,084 Baum June 11, 1929 1,886,320 Waite Nov. 1, 1932 2,052,121 Venzie Aug. 25, 1936 2,660,272 Walterman et al Nov. 24, 1953 2,682,324 Lyons June 29, 1954 

